New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has instituted rigorous limitations on the contentious ‘bulldozer justice’ practice, a punitive approach frequently employed by the Uttar Pradesh government. The practice of demolishing properties alleged to be unauthorised has raised concerns regarding the circumvention of due process. The court’s 95-page ruling underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law and natural justice, with provisions that protect constitutional rights, including the right to shelter and the presumption of innocence.
Key directives from the ruling include mandatory 15-day notice periods for demolitions, digital documentation of orders, video recording of demolitions, and personal accountability for officials who violate the procedures. The judgment is regarded as a robust reaffirmation of due process, ensuring that the state functions within legal constraints and is subject to judicial oversight.
In an insightful comparative analysis, ‘The Making of China and India in the 21st Century: Long-Run Human Capital Accumulation from 1900 to 2020’, authors Nitin Kumar Bharti and Li Yang examine the differing educational strategies of the two countries over the past century. The study indicates that China’s emphasis on mass education since the 1950s, along with substantial investments in vocational training, has facilitated its swift industrialisation. In contrast, India’s late emphasis on mass primary education and its historical focus on humanities have posed challenges in aligning its workforce with industrial needs.
The study emphasises the long-term effects of these educational decisions on economic growth and employability, underscoring the necessity for India to invest more in vocational training to compete with China’s industrial success.
Watch episode 1553 of ‘Cut the Clutter’, where Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta explores the origins of ‘bulldozer justice’, highlighting key points from the recent Supreme Court judgment on the matter, and also examines the report by the Paris School of Economics comparing the long-term educational strategies of India and China.